Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s chief of staff, Jeremy Racca, has officially resigned after more than a decade working alongside the mayor in various City Hall roles. The departure comes several weeks after Racca went on unpaid leave and moved to New York City.
Racca, who began working for Harrell in 2011, relocated in July and soon after took a position at a New York law firm. He explained that the decision was motivated by ongoing health struggles, including two cardiac events over the past year and a half, and a need to reduce the stress that comes with political work. His wife has been living in New York, and he said the move also allowed him to maintain healthcare benefits without receiving two paychecks at once, something the city’s human resources department has confirmed.
The timing of his resignation follows a challenging primary election for Harrell, whose bid to become Seattle’s second two-term mayor this century suffered a setback when challenger Katie Wilson finished nearly 10 percentage points ahead. Racca emphasized that his departure was not tied to the election results, noting that if anything, the outcome made the decision harder. He explained that his request for unpaid leave was entirely health-related, saying he would have remained in the position if he were in full health.
Racca’s connection to Harrell dates back to the mayor’s 2011 Seattle City Council reelection campaign, after which he worked in Harrell’s council office until 2019, when Harrell chose not to seek a fourth term. Following a brief move to New York, Racca returned in 2022 to serve as Harrell’s chief of staff early in the mayor’s term.
The mayor’s office has previously faced accusations of fostering a “boys’ club” environment, allegations raised by former deputy mayor Monisha Harrell, who is also the mayor’s niece. Racca said he worked to ensure that diverse perspectives were included in decision-making, stressing that the team made a strong effort to have “the right people in the room at the right times.”
Reflecting on Harrell’s primary performance, Racca suggested it was part of a broader pushback against incumbents nationwide, driven by public impatience and lingering political frustrations from the Trump administration era.
